A Somali pirate says the kidnapped crews of two Egyptian fishingvessels have won their freedom after attacking their pirate captors.
Oneof the pirates on board, who called himself Miraa, says the hostagesoverpowered them with machetes Thursday. He said the Egyptian crewsthen seized guns from the pirates, killing two of his colleagues.
Shipping officials say the Egyptians are now in control of their ships and are heading home.
The pirates had held the Egyptian crews hostage since mid-April.
Thecase marks a rare instance of crewmen fighting back against Somalipirates who usually hold their hostages for months seeking large ransompayments.
In another development, a Turkish cargo ship evaded an attack by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden Friday.
Turkey'smilitary says pirates had been following the cargo ship but gave up trying to capture it when a German helicopter led by NATOforces in the region reached the scene.
A flotilla of foreign naval vessels off Somalia has failed to slow the rampant piracy.